Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Recently, Team TME had the privilege of interviewing one of New York's leading female cosmetic surgeons, Dr. Victoria Karlinsky. They discussed what has become one of the most asked for cosmetic enhancement procedures -- buttock augmentation -- better known as the “Brazilian Butt Lift” or BBL. As cited by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2017 approximately 21,000 Americans opted for some type of buttock augmentation making this specific cosmetic enhancement one of the most requested.

High profile entertainers, such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé, have been celebrated for more than their talents on stage. These women have enviable naturally curvaceous figures, and it should come as no surprise that one would want to emulate his or her favorite celebrity. And if you’re considering buttock augmentation, read on for great insights regarding the how and what to expect from the fastest growing body augmentation.

TME:Of late, we’ve seen a bit of negative press regarding buttock lift procedures. What are the different procedures one can have for a buttock lift and what deems certain procedures unsafe?

Dr. Victoria Karlinsky: There are two ways to enlarge someone’s buttocks. This can be done via fat grafting or by utilizing solid silicone implants. In my practice I only offer fat grafting to enlarge and uplift someone’s buttocks. The reason for that is the complication rate. Liposuction and fat grafting has a much lower rate of complications then that of Silicone implants. While there are many people who do not have enough fat for the fat grafting procedure, I feel that the high rate of complications with solid buttock implants is not acceptable.

How does the Brazilian Butt Lift differ from the other type(s) of buttock enhancement procedures?

Dr. Karlinsky: BBL is completely different from buttock augmentation with silicone implants. When performing BBL, we typically perform circumferential liposuction of the torso (abdomen, flanks, back), we can also harvest fat from arms and thighs. The fat is then cleaned and re-injected into the buttocks to create a fuller, shapelier form. Because we are injecting the patient’s own tissue, the risks of infection, extrusion, and encapsulation (to name a few potential complications associated with silicone implants) do not exist.

What are the common misconceptions that patients have regarding the results of the Brazilian Butt Lift?

Dr. Karlinsky: Many times, patients come to see me with a photo of J Lo or similar celebrities, asking if I can give them a butt like theirs. The answer is most always “No”. One limitation of fat grafting is that there is only so much fat we can inject at one time and sometimes more than one treatment is needed to achieve the desired size and projection. If too much fat is injected, we know that it will simply not survive. The fat is a free graft and its survival depends on the formation of a new blood supply, which will provide the tissue with the nutrients it needs to stay alive. If we simply clump a bunch of fat in one place, the butt will look big and full for a few weeks but little by little, the fat cells, which never got the blood supply, will die and will be reabsorbed by the body.

What advice can you offer to a person exploring the possibility have having the procedure?

Dr. Karlinsky: First and foremost, a patient must do his or her due diligence and find a doctor who is well trained to perform this particular procedure. Secondly, if they have enough fat and realistic expectations, they should avoid solid silicone implants and go with fat grafting.

Once a patient has decided that this procedure is right from them, what can they expect from prior to the procedure through to recovery time?

Dr. Karlinsky: There is not much they need to worry about, prior to surgery. After surgery, they can expect to be fairly sore and uncomfortable, but not in major pain. I do not restrict my patients from sitting on their buttocks; I simply ask that they do not spend a prolonged period of time in one position. My patients are asked to wear an elastic garment for a week to ten days fulltime (day and night) and another week part-time after surgery. I do not put any restrictions on my patients after surgery, other than no heavy lifting and running for a week after the procedure. Most of my patients go back to work a week after surgery.

What is the price of the procedure and how long do the results of the Brazilian Butt Lift last?

Dr. Karlinsky: The cost for the procedure varies with your surgeon, but the average price for a Brazilian Butt Lift is $10,500. We know that about 30% of fat that we inject will not survive and will be reabsorbed by the body, so some of the volume that the patients see right after surgery will be decreased. As long as the patient who underwent the procedure maintains a healthy diet and keeps her or his weight stable, the results are permanent.

About Dr. Victoria KarlinskyDr. Karlinsky obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Hunter College City University in New York City and her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her residency training at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, graduating with distinction as Chief Resident of the Year and recipient of the Leon Ginsburg Award. Dr. Karlinsky completed her Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship at the Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgical Center in Abilene, Texas. Dr. Karlinsky is the chief surgeon at New Look New Life Surgical Arts.